Tube closure



J. E. KNAUSS TUBE CLOSURE March 31, 1936.

Filed Feb. 5, 1955 ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNETED STAT v mime PAT NT 6 Claims.

This invention relates to tube closures and is directed primarily to a quick detachable closure for collapsible tubes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a novel form of tube-neck, and a closure cap for the neck which is held thereon by the spring tension of the metal from which the cap is formed. The use of my improved closure avoids the necessity of using a threaded neck and tapped cap for the tube as is common today.

I have also provided a simple bracket from which the tube containing tooth paste for example may be suspended in a medicine chest or adjacent the washbasin.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a collapsible tube provided with my improved neck and cap structure illustrating the tube as suspended from the tube supporting bracket.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the tube formed with my improved neck structure and with the cap removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the tube illustrating the neck and cap partly in section.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the tube illustrat- 35 ing the open end of the cap engaging the neck.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral I denotes a collapsible tube formed on the upper end thereof with a neck 2 in the shape of an inverted 40 frustum which is square in cross section. A passage 3 is formed through the neck 2 and is in communication with the interior of the tube.

Adapted to engage the neck 2 is a cap 4 which, due to its particular construction, can be easily 45 snapped on and ofi of the neck by relative lateral movement. This cap 2, preferably formed of spring metal, comprises a top plate 5, side plates 6, and a back plate 1.

The cap is formed so as to be substantially the same shape as the neck.

Projecting outwardly from the top plate 5 at the open end of the cap is a finger 8 bent downwardly and then upwardly, substantially as shown. Formed on the side plates 6 and extending out from the same end of the cap as the finger 8, are

outwardly flaring ears 9 having a portion thereof bent inwardly as at H] in order to lie inside the plane of the sides of the neck when the cap is in place.

Each side plate 6 is provided with an inwardly projecting detent H stamped .in the plate and adapted to engage in shallow depressions I2 formed in the sides of the neck.

Secured to the under side of the top plate 5 by suitable adhesive is a gasket l3 formed from cork or the like. This gasket engages the top of the neck when the cap is in place and serves to prevent accidental discharge or leakage of the contents as well as preventing the same from drying out when the cap is in place.

To support the tube with the cap in place, I provide a bracket B having a plate P extending out at right angles thereto, said plate having an open ended slot 5 of sufiicient size to receive the neck of the tube at the base or immediately below the cap. Thus, due to the fact that the neck is in the shape of an inverted frustum, the neck cannot fall through the slot nor can it move sufficient distance to displace the cap from the neck.

In use, it is exceedingly easy to remove and replace my improved cap on the neck of the tube. To remove the cap, it is grasped in the fingers and merely snapped ofi by pulling the cap sideways and in a direction opposite to the open end of the cap.

To replace the cap the open end is guided over the neck by means of the finger 8 and ears 9. The neck being square, the cap may be fitted over the same from any side. When in place, the finger 8 has snapped over the top edge of the neck while the portions of the ears 9, indicated at It], have snapped over the side edges of the neck. To further secure the cap in place the detents H snap into the depressions l2.

When the cap is in place on the tube, the tube may be supported from the bracket in the manner heretofore set out.

By reason of the shape of the neck and cap and the springy nature of the opposed sides of the cap, which frictionally engage the neck, the cap always has a tendency to draw the top plate 5 of the cap I and gasket l3 down into proper closing engagement with the neck and passage therein.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a collapsible tube and closure therefor comprising, a neck on the tube in the form of an inverted frustum of square cross section, said neck having a passage therethrough, and a cap for the neck symmetrical thereto, said cap having an open side to receive the neck therethrough, and outwardly flaring guide lips formed on the edges of the cap adjacent the open side and adapted to guide the neck into the cap.

2. The combination of a collapsible tube and closure therefor comprising, a neck on the tube in the form of an inverted frustum of square cross section, said neck having a passage therethrough, and a cap for the neck symmetrical thereto, said cap comprising a top member, a wall depending from one end of the same, and opposed resilient walls connected at one end to said one wall and spaced apart at the opposite end to receive the neck therebetween with a relative lateral movement of the neck and cap and to then frictionally engage the corresponding sides of the neck.

3. A device as in claim 2 with elements formed on and propecting inwardly from said separated ends of the walls in position to lie adjacent but beyond the neck when the cap is in position thereon, to yieldably hold the cap against removal,

4. The combination of a collapsible tube and closure therefor comprising a neck of rectangular cross section on the tube in the form of an inverted frustum, said neck having an axial bore therethrough, a removable cap for the neck symmetrical thereto, said cap being closed on three sides but open on the remaining side to receive the neck therethrough, and elements disposed on the cap to overhang the side opening of the cap and yieldably engage the adjacent side of the neck.

5. A structure as in claim 4, with outwardly flaring wings rigid with said elements and forming guides for initial engagement with the neck when sliding the cap onto the neck.

6. A device as in claim 2 including outwardly flaring guide lips formed on the outer ends of the resilient walls.

JAMES E. KNAUSS. 

